Air Navigation Services Regulations Update

Summary#

These are the final Regulations Amending the Canadian Aviation Regulations (Parts I, III, IV and VI to VIII – Air Navigation Services) published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on March 26, 2025. They clarify and reorganize rules about air traffic services, add or change definitions, make some pilot responsibilities (for contact and visual approaches) enforceable, and remove wording that blocked newer surveillance technologies; the regulations come into force on March 27, 2025.

What it does#

• Rewrites and adds definitions in the Canadian Aviation Regulations so terms are clearer. New or changed terms include ATS unit (air traffic services unit), FS unit (flight services unit), RNAV, GNSS, and definitions for contact and visual approaches.
• Replaces the old term “flight service station” with the broader concept of an air traffic services unit across many rules.
• Requires an ATS operations certificate to operate an ATS unit and sets out what an ATS site manual must contain.
• Codifies pilot responsibilities for:
  • Contact approaches — pilot must be clear of cloud, have at least one mile flight visibility, and have visual contact with the surface before requesting authorization.
  • Visual approaches — pilot must be in VMC (visual meteorological conditions) and have visual contact with the aerodrome (or the aircraft they must follow) before accepting authorization.
• Removes specific references to “radar” so other technologies like ADS‑B and MLAT can be used for surveillance and position information.
• Reorganizes Subpart 1 of Part VIII to separate air traffic control (ATC) services from other air traffic services, and to clarify training and competency requirements for flight service specialists.
• Clarifies what services pilots can expect in different classes of airspace (A, B, C, D, E) and who must provide services in English and French at listed units.
• Updates reporting rules for aerodrome obstacle lights and markings to require immediate notification to the appropriate ATS unit.
• Designates many separation and service provisions for enforcement by administrative monetary penalties. Some penalty levels shown in the regulations include up to $3,000 for an individual and $15,000 for a corporation for many provisions; other listed provisions carry up to $5,000 for an individual and $25,000 for a corporation.

Who's affected#

• NAV CANADA, as the main provider of civil air navigation services, because the regulations clarify how its units and manuals must be organized and certified.
• Pilots (especially IFR pilots) — new enforceable duties when requesting or conducting contact and visual approaches, and clearer expectations about what services they will receive in different airspace.
• Air traffic controllers and flight service specialists — clarified roles, training and competence requirements, and the formal structure for ATS operations.
• Aerodrome operators — new or clarified responsibilities for producing visibility marker charts and reporting obstacle lighting/marking problems to the appropriate ATS unit.
• Operators of remotely piloted aircraft (drone pilots) — must notify the appropriate ATS unit if they lose control and the aircraft enters or is likely to enter certain controlled or restricted airspace.
• Smaller or niche ATS providers such as Midwest‑ATC Service Inc. were consulted; the changes mostly formalize existing practices and are not expected to add new costs.

Why it matters#

• Clearer rules reduce confusion about who must do what. That makes routine operations safer and easier to follow.
• Allowing non‑radar technologies (like ADS‑B) removes a technical barrier to modern surveillance systems. That can improve traffic awareness and efficiency.
• Making pilot responsibilities for contact and visual approaches enforceable turns long-standing safety practices into rules that can be enforced after incidents, which may reduce risk in marginal weather.
• Reorganizing the ATS rules and standardizing definitions should make it easier for ATS staff, pilots, and regulators to interpret and follow the rules day to day.
• The changes are meant to be low‑cost and to support innovation and consistency across Canadian aviation operations.